The Atlantic Coast Observer Network - Virginia/North Carolina/South Carolina

http://www.genserva.com/acon

PRELIMINARY SUMMARY OF CLIMATOLOGICAL DATA 



JULY 2013

...VIRGINIA STATEWIDE TEMPERATURES AVERAGE SLIGHTLY ABOVE NORMAL;
THE CAROLINAS STATEWIDE TEMPERATURES AVERAGE BELOW NORMAL...

...RAINFALL TOTALS ABOVE NORMAL FOR 2nd CONSECUTIVE MONTH...
A persistent shifting of weak, mostly northeast to southwest oriented surface fronts across the three-state region during July resulted in excessive rainfall and some noteworthy flooding for western to central areas in each state. With heavy rains came slightly cooler temperatures for most, especially in the Carolinas and when compared to recent months. The coastal plains areas received less rainfall as eastbound fronts became stationary over the central and western portions of our states, with a further shifting of these fronts to the west over the Appalachians and Tennessee Valley. These weak but ongoing fronts provided the main ingredient for heavy shower and thunderstorm development. The greatest factor in the westward shift was steady strong high pressure over the western Atlantic ocean that shifted toward the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern United States coasts.


  • RAINFALL IS VARIABLE - (from CoCoRaHS)      We know from our CoCoRaHS observations that precipitation is distributed very unevenly across our network. If we look across the globe, we find that the variability is even greater. According to the US Geological Survey, Mt. Waialeale, Hawaii holds the world's record for average-annual rainfall. "Mt. Waialeale averages about 450 inches (1,140 cm) per year. A remarkable 642 inches (1,630 cm) was reported there during one twelve-month period (that's almost 2 inches (5 cm) every day!). Is this the world record for the most rain in a year? No, that was recorded at Cherrapunji, India, where it rained 905 inches (2,300 cm) in 1861. Contrast those excessive precipitation amounts to Arica, Chile, where no rain fell for 14 years, and in Bagdad, California, where precipitation was absent for 767 consecutive days from October 1912 to November 1914." Want to find out more about the remarkable properties of precipitation? Click here: http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/watercycleprecipitation.html


  • HURRICANES AND THE MIDDLE ATLANTIC STATES    ACON MD/DE/DC Member Kevin Shaw sends info from Rick Swartz! Kevin notes: "Great article in Southern Maryland Online, published on July 8, 2013, on Rick Schwartz and his hurricane book Hurricanes and the Middle Atlantic States The article features a great explanation on his original inspiration for his book and how his best friend Peter helped him get his project going and maintaining his focus until the book was completed as well as other facts about Rick and the book. Check out the link below and ENJOY! And contact Rick (ricschwartz@yahoo.com) if you don't have his book and want to buy it! You won't be disappointed! The SMO article can be found here: http://somd.com/news/headlines/2013/16959.shtml. Thanks!"


  • INTERESTING READ: Gary England, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma     ACON creator Bruce Rosenberg sent this link (via ACON DC/MD/DE's Kevin Shaw) to a tremendous story in the NY Times online on Gary England, long-time TV weatherman in Oklahoma City, OK. Check it out at: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/11/magazine/the-weather-god-of-oklahoma-city.html?pagewanted=3&_r=0


  • NWS AKQ MONTHLY RAINFALL ANALYSIS (Virginia)      Don't forget these new products for Virginia from NWS Wakefield compiled from ASOS...COOP...RAWS REPORTS | Monthly Rainfall Analysis - http://www.weather.gov/akq/MONTHLY_RAINFALL_ANALYSIS -


  • THE COCORAHS BLOG    Please take advantage of the CoCoRaHS Blog. http://cocorahs.blogspot.com/ It's updated frequently and loaded with fascinating weather and climate information.


  • SCIENTISTS AND CLOUD RESEARCH    ACON MD/DE/DC Member Kevin Shaw sends another resource from NOVA LABS. Very interesting link to click on, showing scientists involved with all types of cloud research. Don't forget to click on the "MORE" link under each scientist to really find out more about them and their specific research. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/labs/meet-scientists/#cloud-lab


  • THE HEAT INDEX: WHAT'S THAT? (from CoCoRaHS)   The Heat index (HI) is sometimes referred to as the "apparent temperature". The HI, given in degrees F, is a measure of how hot it feels when relative humidity (RH) is added to the actual air temperature. So if the temperature was 85F and the Relative Humidity was 85% the Heat Index value would be 99F. Believe me, that's an uncomfortable value. Many parts of the country have had heat index values over 100F the past couple of weeks. Thanks to the invention of air conditioning many are fortunate to find relief from the heat during these hot summer days. For those who do not have air conditioning it's important to try to keep cool.

    The US Army has created a great "Heat Index calculator" (along with other conversions) that you can use to determine the heat index at your particular location: Weather Conversion Calculators, http://www.eustis.army.mil/weather/weather_products/wxconversions.htm    It's about halfway down the page.

    NOAA's Weather Prediction Center has one on their homepage as well: WPC Heat Index Calculator - http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/html/heatindex.shtml

    Here is a list of possible heat disorders that could result for people in high risk groups when the HI reaches a certain value: Heat Index of 130F or higher = Heat stroke or sunstroke likely, Heat Index between 105 - 129F = Sunstroke, muscle cramps, and/or heat exhaustion likely, Heatstroke possible with prolonged exposure and/or physical activity. Heat Index between 90 - 105F = Sunstroke, muscle cramps, and/or heat exhaustion possible with prolonged exposure and/or physical activity. Heat Index between 80 - 90F = Fatigue possible with prolonged exposure and/or physical activity.

    For additional information on HEAT visit http://www.nws.noaa.gov/os/heat/index.shtml#heatindex and HEAT STRESS, visit http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/temp-and-precip/heat-stress.php

    On a final note, animals such as dogs are very susceptible to heat stroke. Don't forget to find a shady, cool spot for your pets. They will be thankful you did.



  • DROUGHT MONITOR    http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/    More information on drought can be found at NOAA's Drought Information Center http://www.drought.noaa.gov/


  • REMINDER   All National Weather Service station data listed herein is preliminary and may be subject to change.  The data has not been certified and cannot be used in legal actions.  Only reports certified by the National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, NC can be used for these purposes.


    • ACON VA/NC/SC Station Extremes - JULY 2013
    State
    Maximum Temperature
    Minimum
    Temperature
    Warmest
    Average
    Temperature
    Coldest
    Average
    Temperature
    Maximum
    Precipitation
    Minimum
    Precipitation
    Virginia
    99°
    Chantilly
    51°
    Blacksburg
    81.2°
    Arlington - Washington, DC
    71.5°
    Blacksburg
    12.73"
    Roanoke
    3.21"
    Woodstock
    North Carolina
    96°
    Fayetteville
    Raleigh (RDU)
    Whiteville
    58°
    Asheville
    81.4°
    New Bern
    73.5°
    Asheville
    16.17"
    Hickory
    1.88"
    Cape Hatteras
    South Carolina
    96°
    Charleston
    65°
    Greenville-Spartanburg
    81.9°
    Charleston
    77.4°
    Greenville-Spartanburg
    15.38"
    Anderson
    5.35"
    Charleston


    ( For an explanation of column headers in the following tables,
    please note the column denotations table below. )

    TEMPERATURE / WINDS/ ELEMENTS FOLLOWED BY
    PRECIPITATION / BAROMETRIC PRESSURE

    VIRGINIA | NORTH CAROLINA | SOUTH CAROLINA
    [Reminder: All NWS DATA HEREIN IS NOT OFFICIAL]
    STATION A B C C1 D E F G H I J K K1 L M N N1 N2 O P Q R R1 CWA TIME RECORDED
    BCB 80.1 62.9 71.5 0.30 89 16 51 30 0 0 0 0 84% 23 150 4 2.8 10 0 0 0 4 LWX 2400
    CHT 87.6 70.2 78.9 2.20 98.7 18 60.7 26 12 0 0 0 80% 15 160 5,6 0.1 180 3 0 0 0 1 LWX 2400
    CHO 85.5 68.3 76.9 1.50 93 18,19 57 26,30 6 0 0 0 29 210 8,9 4.0 8 0 0 0 3 LWX 2400
    DAN 86.3 70.0 78.2 -0.10 94 18 60 30 8 0 0 0 77% 44 20 24 3.4 12 0 0 0 3 RNK 2400
    DCA 88.3 74.2 81.2 1.40 97 17 65 25 11 0 0 0 68% 39 220 10 7.9 9 0 0 0 1 LWX 2400
    IAD 86.9 69.6 78.3 1.60 96 18 58 26 9 0 0 0 73% 32 300 7 5.9 6 0 0 0 0 LWX 2400
    GAV 87.8 70.52 79.2 -1.35 95 17,18 59 26 14 0 0 0 76% 23 340 16 4 0 0 0 0 AKQ 2400
    HDV 85.6 69.4 77.6 0.40 94 18,19 58 30 8 0 0 0 79% 20 270 10 270 7 0 0 0 0 LWX 2400
    LYH 85.8 67.9 76.9 1.60 93 17,18 55 30 8 0 0 0 77% 25 310 21 4.2 5 0 0 0 5 RNK 2400
    NPN 89.2 71.7 79.4 -1.00 96.5 18 63.2 27 17 0 0 0 31 180 19 1.2 230 10 0 0 0 0 AKQ 2400
    FHC 88.68 73.52 81.1 1.50 94 19 67.1 26 16 0 0 0 76% 31 200 25 1.2 203 1 0 0 0 0 AKQ 2400
    NOR 87.2 71.5 79.4 0.20 93 16 64 27 10 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 AKQ 2400
    ORF 88.2 73.5 80.8 1.20 94 19 66 27 14 0 0 0 72% 37 110 22 8.0 2 0 0 0 3 AKQ 2400
    POR 88.5 72.8 80.6 0.70 95 17 66 27 15 0 0 0 78% 37 250,050 2,25 1.5 208 4 0 0 0 1 AKQ 2400
    CTR 86.6 69.2 77.9 0.00 93.4 16 58.4 26 9 0 0 0 85% 11 110,290,270 1,6,20 0.1 147 5 0 0 0 0 AKQ 2400
    MEC 87.31 69.93 78.79 95 18 60 26 8 0 0 0 8 0 0 0 0 AKQ 2400
    RIC 88.9 72.1 80.5 1.20 96 16,17 63 26 16 0 0 0 74% 44 30 1 6.6 10 0 0 0 0 AKQ 2400
    ROA 85.1 68.9 77.0 0.30 94 16 56 30 7 0 0 0 73% 61 60 16 5.0 9 0 0 0 1 RNK 2400
    WAL 87.0 72.7 79.8 2.70 97 17,18 64 30 11 0 0 0 31 220 1 8.3 8 0 0 0 3 AKQ 2400
    WOO 81.5 67.0 74.3 2.00 90 20 55 29 1 0 0 0 6 0 0 0 3 LWX 800
    WSH 82.6 67.0 74.8 -0.99 92.3 19 57.6 26 5 0 0 0 88% 13 140 19 0.2 248 4 0 0 0 0 LWX 2400
    Averages 86.42 70.14 78.24 0.77 94.28 60.19 9.76 0.00 0.00 0.0 77.3% 30.3 3.78 6.3 0.00 0 0 1.3
    STATION A B C C1 D E F G H I J K K1 L M N N1 N2 O P Q R R1 CWA TIME RECORDED
    STATION A B C C1 D E F G H I J K K1 L M N N1 N2 O P Q R R1 CWA TIME RECORDED
    AVL 81.6 65.4 73.5 -0.3 87 16,17 58 30 0 0 0 0 79% 26 350,160 3,6 4.3 12 0 0 0 4 GSP 2400
    MRH 85.0 74.6 79.8 -0.2 92 17 68 27 1 0 0 0 36 180 1 9.7 0 0 0 0 1 MHX 2400
    CLT 86.0 70.3 78.2 -0.3 92 16,24 66 30 4 0 0 0 79% 37 20 17 6.2 11 0 0 0 1 GSP 2400
    ECG 87.4 72.6 80.0 1.2 94 16 65 27 7 0 0 0 78% 79 300 18 7.6 0 0 0 0 3 AKQ 2400
    FAY 89.4 72.3 80.8 -0.6 96 16 66 26 19 0 0 0 76% 46 060 24 6.2 8 0 0 0 5 RAH 2400
    GSO 85.1 70.1 77.6 -0.9 93 16 64 30 5 0 0 0 76% 38 160 4 6.5 14 0 0 0 2 RAH 2400
    HSE 86.6 75.9 81.2 2.1 90 17,18 72 26,27 3 0 0 0 77% 36 210 1   0 0 0 0 0 MHX 2400
    HKY 84.2 68.5 76.4 -1.2 93 17 64 29 4 0 0 0 37 310 31 3.2 14 0 0 0 8 GSP 2400
    LBT 88.9 72.6 80.7 -0.4 95 16 69 26,27 16 0 0 0 77% 30 110 14 5.0 12 0 0 0 2 ILM 2400
    EWN 89.6 73.3 81.4 0.9 94 18,24 67 27 18 0 0 0 76% 54 120 3 5.6 8 0 0 0 3 MHX 2400
    RDU 87.5 70.7 79.1 -0.9 96 24 62 26,30 11 0 0 0 76% 31 220 31 5.7 13 0 0 0 0 RAH 2400
    RAL 87.3 70.0 78.7 -1.3 94 16,18 60 30 9 0 0 0 23 31 5 0 0 0 0 RAH 2400
    ROX 85.6 69.1 77.5 1.1 92 16,17,18 59 30 6 0 0 0 80% 25 320 21 180 7 0 0 0 1 RAH 2400
    WHI 89.2 71.9 80.5 0.6 95.5 16 66.9 26 19 0 0 0 77% 31 245 24 1.9 167 7 0 0 0 0 ILM 2400
    ILM 86.7 73.0 79.8 -1.3 92 16 69 26,27 4 0 0 0 76% 38 250 20 6.4 5 0 0 0 1 ILM 2400
    Averages 86.7 71.4 79.0 -0.1 93.0 65.1 8.4 0.0 0.0 0.0 77% 37.8 5.7 7.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 2.1
    STATION A B C C1 D E F G H I J K K1 L M N N1 N2 O P Q R R1 CWA TIME RECORDED
    STATION A B C C1 D E F G H I J K K1 L M N N1 N2 O P Q R R1 CWA TIME RECORDED
    AND 86.2 69.8 78.0 -1.4 93 17 67 12,30 2 0 0 0 36 010 12 4.9 19 0 0 0 2 GSP 2400
    CAE 88.4 72.7 80.5 -1.7 93 17 69 16 15 0 0 0 79% 55 30 17 4.9 12 0 0 0 5 CAE 2400
    CRE 85.3 74.6 79.9 -0.4 91 17 70 26 1 0 0 0 80% 39 200 1 8.0 3 0 0 0 2 ILM 2400
    CHS 89.1 74.6 81.9 -0.2 96 17 72 8,18 12 0 0 0 35 140 5 6.9 9 0 0 0 0 CHS 2400
    FLO 88.9 72.5 80.7 -0.5 95 17 69 26,27 15 0 0 0 76% 46 320 27 5.4 9 0 0 0 6 ILM 2400
    GSP 85.4 69.3 77.4 -2.5 92 17 65 12 2 0 0 0 81% 45 350 17 5.1 18 0 0 0 3 GSP 2400
    OGB 87.8 72.4 80.1 -1.7 94 17 69 1 10 0 0 0 33 230 12 4.4 0 0 0 0 5 CAE 2400
    Averages 87.3 72.27 79.8 -1.2 93.4 68.7 8.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 79% 41.3 5.7 10.0 0 0 0 3.3
    STATION A B C C1 D E F G H I J K K1 L M N N1 N2 O P Q R R1 CWA TIME RECORDED
    STATION A B C C1 D E F G H I J K K1 L M N N1 N2 O P Q R R1 CWA TIME RECORDED
    TRI 83.8 64.8 74.3 -0.3 91 17,18 55 29 3 0 0 0 34 220 26 3.1 14 0 0 0 3 MRX 2400
    DAV 74.8 57.4 66.1 83 19,20 45 26 0 0 0 0 PBX 2400
    STATION T T1 U U1 V V1 W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 6A 7 7A 8 CWA TIME RECORDED
    BCB 7.78 3.52 2.73 3 2.73 3 20 2 37.59 0 27.4 RNK 2400
    CHT 9.27 5.60 3.55 11 6.15 11-12 13 3 29.35 0 9.5 30.323 14 29.637 23 30.027 LWX 2400
    CHO 3.71 -0.61 1.05 3 1.07 11-12 18 1 27.40     29.650 23 LWX 2400
    DAN 11.50 6.91 2.99 12 4.43 11-12 21 3 37.65 0 1.7 30.320 15 29.700 23 RNK 2400
    DCA 4.43 0.70 1.39 12 1.39 12 11 2 26.98 0 7.8     29.650 23 LWX 2400
    IAD 7.27 3.60 3.71 11 4.76 11-12 13 2 23.60 0 10.5     29.650 23 LWX 2400
    GAV 7.03 3.42 2.42 3 2.42 3 15 2 34.46 0 14.2 30.340 14 29.670 23 30.06 AKQ 2400
    HDV 6.73 2.92 2.06 11 15 3 28.81 0 12.1 30.310 14 29.620 23 AKQ 2400
    LYH 3.41 -0.95 1.01 2 1.37 2-3 15 1 30.17 0 13.0 30.350 15 29.710 23 RNK 2400
    NPN 8.60 4.25 3.08 12 3.09 12-13 11 1 37.10 0 5.9 30.330 14 29.670 24 AKQ 2400
    FHC 7.50 2.36 1.93 25 2.04 11-12 11 3 29.68 0 1.2 30.339 14 29.682 23 30.075 AKQ 2400
    NOR 6.00 0.71 1.90 25 1.90 25 8 3 28.32 0 1.8 AKQ 2400
    ORF 8.19 3.05 3.27 22 3.27 22 9 4 28.23 0 1.8 30.330 14 29.670 23 AKQ 2400
    POR 4.57 -0.84 1.49 11 2.11 11-12 11 2 30.02 0 2.7 30.340 14 29.680 23 30.068 AKQ 2400
    CTR 8.95 4.64 1.85 10 2.20 1-2 17 5 35.61 0 9.5 30.300 14 29.640 23 30.022 AKQ 2400
    MEC 4.77 0.82 29 1.22 10-11 11 0 32.45 0 10.9 AKQ 2400
    RIC 5.88 1.37 1.84 10 1.96 10-11 14 2 31.26 0 8.6 30.350 14 29.680 23 AKQ 2400
    ROA 12.73 8.69 3.88 10 3.88 10 16 5 39.76 0 18.3 30.360 15 29.730 23 RNK 2400
    WAL 5.74 1.65 1.07 24 1.87 10-11 15 3 27.62 0 8.4 30.340 14 29.640 23 AKQ 2400
    WOO 3.21 -0.78 0.92 11-12 16 0 26.22 0 32.2 30.560 15 30.020 23 LWX 800
    WSH 4.89 0.83 1.98 10 2.09 11,12 18 1 26.94 0 42.7 30.400 14 29.720 23 LWX 2400
    Averages 6.77 2.55 2.20 2.54 14.2 2.3 30.92 0.00 12.0 30.353 29.690 30.050
    STATION T T1 U U1 V V1 W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 6A 7 7A 8 CWA TIME RECORDED
    STATION T T1 U U1 V V1 W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 6A 7 7A 8 CWA TIME RECORDED
    AVL 13.69 9.38 3.21 3 3.45 3-4 19 6 51.78 0 0.5 30.350 16 29.79 24 GSP 2400
    MRH 5.39 -0.63 2.19 12 2.43 12-13 13 1 28.43 0 T 30.320 5 29.75 24 MHX 2400
    CLT 7.46 3.78 1.69 11 1.85 10-11 18 2 33.52 0 2.7 30.330 15 29.74 24 GSP 2400
    ECG 6.48 0.82 2.26 24 2.41 24-25 14 1 23.77 0 T 30.320 15 29.70 23 AKQ 2400
    FAY 7.10 1.18 1.68 8 1.79 8-9 17 2 31.56 0 29.25 30 RAH 2400
    GSO 6.02 1.54 1.40 10 1.40 10 16 2 32.74 0 3.6 29.25 30 RAH 2400
    HSE 1.88 -3.11 0.59 1 0.66 12-13 9 0 27.43 0 0 30.330 4 29.74 24 MHX 2400
    HKY 16.17 11.73 5.20 27 5.23 26-27 21 5 48.62 30.310 15 29.72 24 GSP 2400
    LBT 5.63 0.15 1.20 1 1.20 1 13 1 30.82 30.290 15 29.74 24 ILM 2400
    EWN 3.73 -2.44 0.78 13 1.11 11-12 15 0 21.51 0 T 30.320 4 29.74 23 MHX 2400
    RDU 3.48 -1.25 0.72 1 1.02 1-2 12 0 32.59 0 1.7 29.25 30 RAH 2400
    RAL 4.38 -0.35 2.15 1     12 1 35.01 0 3.2 RAH 2400
    ROX 6.12 1.53 1.52 7 1.52 7 13 1 30.31 0 5.6 30.390 15 29.77 23,24 30.15 RAH 2400
    WHI 10.03 4.52 2.97 1 2.97 1 13 4 37.80 0 T 30.286 15 29.747 23 30.065 ILM 2400
    ILM 5.64 -1.84 2.18 12 2.21 11-12 13 1 33.82 0 T 30.290 15 29.76 24 ILM 2400
    Averages 6.88 1.67 1.98 2.09 14.5 1.8 33.31 0.00 1.44 30.321 29.639
    STATION T T1 U U1 V V1 W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 6A 7 7A 8 CWA TIME RECORDED
    STATION T T1 U U1 V V1 W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 6A 7 7A 8 CWA TIME RECORDED
    AND 15.38 11.72 2.06 4 2.33 8-9 21 6 46.75 30.310 16 29.76 24 GSP 2400
    CAE 11.21 5.75 2.55 21 2.55 20-21 18 2 36.00 0 T 30.290 16 29.75 24 CAE 2400
    CRE 6.68 0.78 1.73 1,12 2.49 12-13 11 4 36.57 30.290 16 29.77 25 ILM 2400
    CHS 5.35 -1.18 1.14 29 15 1 42.11 0 T 30.280 16 29.77 24 CHS 2400
    FLO 14.91 9.65 4.1 27 4.10 27 15 6 42.02 30.290 16 29.74 24 ILM 2400
    GSP 14.45 9.65 2.61 4 3.00 3-4 20 5 47.04 0 2.0 30.310 15 29.74 24 GSP 2400
    OGB 13.47 8.18 2.8 11 3.06 11-12 18 5 30.85 30.300 16 29.75 24 CAE 2400
    Averages 11.64 6.36 2.43 2.92 16.9 4.1 40.19 0 0.67 30.296 29.754
    STATION T T1 U U1 V V1 W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 6A 7 7A 8 CWA TIME RECORDED
    TRI 7.11 2.42 1.65 3 1.74 3-4 21 2 40.17 0 6.7 30.33 16 29.75 1 MRX 2400
    DAV 5.03 0.86 13 17 0 36.67       0 223.8 PBX 2400
    STATION T T1 U U1 V V1 W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 6A 7 7A 8 CWA TIME RECORDED


    Virginia:

    Arlington - " ALTHOUGH THE MONTHLY AVERAGE TEMPERATURE THIS JULY WAS ABOVE NORMAL... THE LEVEL OF HEAT WAS NOWHERE NEAR WHAT WASHINGTON DC EXPERIENCED THE PAST THREE JULYS. IN 2010...THE AVERAGE TEMPERATURE IN JULY WAS 83.1F...WHICH TIED JULY 1993 FOR THE WARMEST MONTH ON RECORD AT THE TIME. THE ALL-TIME RECORD FOR WASHINGTON DC WAS SET THE NEXT YEAR WHEN THE MONTHLY AVERAGE TEMPERATURE IN JULY 2011 WAS 84.5F. THE MONTHLY AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF 84.0F IN JULY 2012 FELL JUST SHY OF THE RECORD...BUT IT WAS HIGH ENOUGH TO GO DOWN AS THE SECOND WARMEST MONTH ON RECORD. THE MONTHLY MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE THIS JULY WAS ACTUALLY NEAR NORMAL WHILE THE MONTHLY MINIMUM TEMPERATURE WAS WELL ABOVE NORMAL. THE MONTHLY MINIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 74.2F IN JULY 2013 WAS THE THIRD WARMEST MINIMUM TEMPERATURE OF ANY MONTH IN WASHINGTON DC RECORD. ONLY JULY 2011 (75.4F) AND JULY 2012 (74.9F) WERE WARMER. THE FIRST 95-DEGREE OR HIGHER DAY OF 2013 OCCURRED IN WASHINGTON ON JULY 15. THERE WERE FIVE 95-DEGREE OR HIGHER DAYS IN TOTAL THIS JULY. BY 31 JULY LAST YEAR...22 95-DEGREE DAYS WERE ALREADY OBSERVED IN THE 2012 CALENDAR YEAR. 2013 WAS THE FIRST YEAR SINCE 2009 WITH NO 100-DEGREE DAYS IN JULY. EIGHT 100-DEGREE DAYS WERE RECORDED IN JULY 2012 AND THREE EACH IN JULY 2010 AND JULY 2011. FOR THE FIRST TIME ON RECORD...THE TEMPERATURE NEVER FELL BELOW 80F AT DCA FOR FIVE CONSECUTIVE DAYS. THIS STREAK OCCURRED FROM THE 16TH TO THE 20TH. THE MOST DAYS IN A ROW ABOVE 80F WAS PREVIOUSLY FOUR (21-24 JULY 2011). DAILY HIGH MINIMUM TEMPERATURE RECORDS WERE EITHER TIED OR SET ON THREE STRAIGHT DAYS FROM THE 17TH TO THE 19TH. RAINFALL FOR THE MONTH WAS SLIGHTLY ABOVE NORMAL. " - [ + + ] - from NWS Sterling, VA

    Chantilly - from Russ Topping: " July featured an extreme rainfall event. The mean monthly temperature was 78.9° (+2.2°). The mean high temperature was 87.6° (-0.3°) and the mean low temperature was 70.2° (+4.7°). A record high temp was tied on the 19th (98°). A record high minimum temp was set on the 4th (73.7°), 14th (74.1°), 16th (74.3°), 18th (74.5°), and 19th (77.1°) and tied on the 2nd (73.1°), 17th (75.3°) and 20th (75.2°). The average minimum temp of 70.2° is the highest ever for July, at this station. July rainfall totaled an incredible 9.27", primarily due to heavy rain which developed along a stationary front on the 11th and 12th around 10pm on the 11th and fell for several hours at a rate of 1-3" per hour. Flash flooding was widespread within the affected area. The 3.55", which primarily fell within a two- hours period on the 11th, is the most ever recorded on any day in the month of July. The 2.78", which fell on the 12th, set a daily record. Thunderstorms were observed on the 11th, 12th, and 21st. *Please note, anemometer is currently partially obstructed from the North and East " - [ + + ]

    Dulles - from NWS Sterling (KLWX): " ALTHOUGH THE MONTHLY AVERAGE TEMPERATURE THIS JULY WAS ABOVE NORMAL... THE LEVEL OF HEAT WAS NOWHERE NEAR WHAT DULLES HAD THE PAST THREE JULYS. IN 2010...THE AVERAGE TEMPERATURE IN JULY WAS 79.5F...WHICH TIED JULY 1994 FOR THE SECOND WARMEST MONTH ON RECORD AT THE TIME. THE ALL-TIME RECORD FOR DULLES WAS SET THE NEXT YEAR WHEN THE MONTHLY AVERAGE TEMPERATURE IN JULY 2011 WAS 81.0F. JULY 2012 FELL JUST SHY OF THE RECORD WITH A MONTHLY AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF 80.6F...BUT IT WAS HIGH ENOUGH TO GO DOWN AS THE SECOND WARMEST MONTH ON RECORD. THE MONTHLY MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE THIS JULY WAS ACTUALLY SLIGHTLY BELOW NORMAL WHILE THE MONTHLY MINIMUM TEMPERATURE WAS WELL ABOVE NORMAL. THE MONTHLY MINIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 69.6F IN JULY 2013 WAS THE SECOND WARMEST MINIMUM TEMPERATURE OF ANY MONTH ON RECORD. ONLY JULY 2012 (69.8F) WAS WARMER. THE FIRST 95-DEGREE OR HIGHER DAY OF 2013 WAS RECORDED AT DULLES ON JULY 18...WHICH IS THE LATEST FIRST OCCURRENCE OF A 95-DEGREE DAY IN A CALENDAR YEAR SINCE 2005 (IN 2005...THE FIRST 95-DEGREE DAY WAS 27 JULY). THERE WERE TWO 95-DEGREE DAYS IN TOTAL THIS JULY. BY 31 JULY LAST YEAR...14 95-DEGREE DAYS WERE ALREADY OBSERVED IN THE 2012 CALENDAR YEAR. SEVEN DAILY HIGH MINIMUM TEMPERATURE RECORDS WERE EITHER TIED OR SET THIS MONTH. THE 7.27 INCHES OF RAINFALL IN JULY 2013 WAS THE SECOND WETTEST ON RECORD FOR JULY. THE 7.85 INCHES OF RAINFALL RECORDED IN JULY 2005 WAS THE WETTEST JULY. A LINE HEAVY SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS THAT DEVELOPED ALONG A STATIONARY FRONT ON THE 11-12TH WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR TWO-THIRDS OF THE MONTHLY PRECIPITATION FELL. THE TWO-DAY RAINFALL TOTAL FROM THIS EVENT WAS 4.85 INCHES...WHICH WAS THE HIGHEST TWO-DAY RAINFALL TOTAL EVERY RECORDED IN JULY. THE 3.71 INCHES OF RAINFALL AT DULLES ON THE 11TH WAS THE WETTEST DAY IN JULY ON RECORD AND THE 13TH WETTEST DAY IN ANY MONTH. " - [ - + ]

    Glen Allen - from Lowell Koontz: " July was the wettest July on record at the Glen Allen station. The 7.03 inches monthly precipitation was a departure of +3.24 inches. The mean temperature was -1.4 °F below average for the past five years but remember three of these years were in the top five of the warmest in recorded history of the Richmond area. July was our wettest month since December of 2009 when 8.44 inches was recorded. Only two months have been wetter at this station since records were started in August of 2009. Rainfall amounts varied greatly over the area and the Richmond International Airport had only 5.88 inches. This was their wettest July since 2005 when 9.28 inches was recorded and was the 40th wettest July in the past 141 years. Glen Allen had 15 days in July with measurable precipitation, which sets a new record for July; the previous record was only 12 days. The maximum precipitation recorded in a day and for 24 hours was 2.42 inches on the 3rd both new records for July. Thunder was heard on only 4 days during July the least on record for July and only one storm on the 10th had much lightning. July was the cloudiest July on record with the highest average relative humidity of 78.9 % for July. This was the fifth highest monthly average relative humidity of the 61 months since this station was started. These factors helped in giving July the lowest temperature range on record at Glen Allen. The lowest dew point temperature for July was 56.9 °F on the 25th and the highest dew point was 80.1 °F on the 18th; the five-year record is 80.9 °F. The average barometric pressure for July was 30.06 inches, which is ironically a new record maximum for the month of July. The total wind run for July was 1679.4 miles, which was a new maximum record for July as were the daily average and daily maximum. " - [ - + ]

    Herndon - from Randy Ashby: " July was about normal for temperature and well above normal for precipitation. The temperatures ranged between a high of 94 and a low of 58. On the precipitation side, the month was 2.06” above normal with 6.73” measured; this was the most ever reported in July at this site. It rained almost every day from the 1st through the 13th with 5.34” falling. We are now 2.7” above normal for the year. " - [ + + ]

    Portsmouth - from Bill Trotter: " July's average temperature of 80.6° was 0.7° ABOVE NORMAL. Precipitation (4.57") was BELOW NORMAL by 0.84" or 84% of the normal July average during the period from 1977 to 2012. Rainfall for the year-to-date through July 31st was 30.02" (+1.87") and 107% of normal. STATION RECORDS: 2nd - WIND GUST 37mph [previous 30mph 1987], 11th - RAINFALL 1.49" [previous 1.38" 1991], 25TH - RAINFALL 1.07" [previous 1.01" 1991]. - [ + - ]

    Richmond - from contributor Lowell Koontz (GAV): " The Richmond International Airport greatest one-day precipitation amount this month was on the 10th with 1.84 inches which was a record for the date. The Richmond International Airport reported the following average temperatures and departures from the 30-year average. The average maximum 88.9 °F dep.-0.8 °F, average min.72.1 °F dep. +3.2 °F, and mean of 80.5 °F dep. +1.2 °F. Because of the higher relative humidity and cloudiness this month, the days were a little cooler and the nights were warmer giving a very low average temperature range of only 16.8 °F. Only four Julys since 1897 have had a lower average daily temperature range! It is also surprising that the average minimum temperature has been warmer only twice since 1897 and three times since 1880. This month’s mean temperature of 80.5 °F has been warmer only 16 times since 1897 and 19 times since 1880. Three daily records were set in July. One was for precipitation on the 10th already mentioned and two high daily minimum temperatures on the 19th with a new record of 77 °F; the previous record was 75 °F in 1918. On the 20th the minimum of 78 °F set a new record; the previous record was 68 °F in 1937. " - [ + + ]

    North Carolina:

    Fayetteville - from Bob Woodson: " A RECORD HIGH MINIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 76 DEGREES WAS SET AT THE FAYETTEVILLE REGL AIRPORT ON JULY 17. THIS TIES THE OLD RECORD SET IN 2005. A RECORD HIGH MINIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 76 DEGREES WAS SET AT THE FAYETTEVILLE REGL AIRPORT ON JULY 18. THIS TIES THE OLD RECORD SET IN 1941. " - [ - + ]

    Greensboro - from Bob Woodson: " A RECORD HIGH MINIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 73 DEGREES WAS SET AT THE PIEDMONT TRIAD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ON JULY 4. THIS TIES THE OLD RECORD SET IN 1925. A RECORD HIGH MINIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 75 DEGREES WAS SET AT THE PIEDMONT TRIAD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ON JULY 17. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 73 SET IN 2005. " - [ - + ]

    Raleigh - from Bob Woodson: " THE MILD TEMPERATURE PATTERN CONTINUED THRU JULY. THE AVERAGE DAILY TEMPERATURE WAS 1.3 DEGREES BELOW NORMAL WITH THE MAXIMUM HIGH ONLY 94 DEGREES. SINCE FEBRUARY, ONLY APRIL HAD ABOVE NORMAL DAILY TEMPERATURES. JULY PRECIPITATION WAS 0.35” BELOW NORMAL, HOWEVER THE YEAR TO DATE PRECIPITATION IS 9.54” ABOVE NORMAL. THUNDERSTORMS WERE OBSERVED ON FIVE DAYS. " - [ - - ]

    Whiteville - from contributor Christopher Crawley (WHI): " Rainiest month since I have lived here, not in total rainfall inches, but in number of days with measured rainfall, with 19 days measuring rainfall. Columbus County, NC had ELEVEN severe thunderstorm warnings posted over the course of the month, and THREE tornado warnings, though no confirmed tornadoes occurred within the county. " - [ + + ]



    COLUMN DENOTATIONS:

    A  maximum mean temperature T total precipitation (inches)
    T1 departure from normal
    B  minimum mean temperature U maximum calendar day precipitation (inches)
    C  monthly mean temperature
    C1 departure from normal    		 U1 date of maximum calendar day precipitation
    D  maximum temperature V date(s) of maximum daily precipitation
    E  date(s) of maximum temperature V1 maximum 24-hour precip. & date(s)
    F  minimum temperature W number of days with precip. >= .01"
    G  date(s) of minimum temperature  X number of days with precip. >= 1.0"
    H  days with maximum temperature >=90 Y year-to-date precipitation (inches)
    I  days with maximum temperature <=32 Z maximum calendar day snowfall (inches)
    J  days with minimum temperature <=32 VRB Variable
    K  days with minimum temperature <= 0 1 date of maximum calendar day snowfall (inches)
    K1 average relative humidity 2 number of days with snowfall
    L  peak wind gust (miles per hour)  3 number of days with snowfall >= 1.0"
    M  direction of peak wind gust 4  total snowfall for month (inches)
    N  date(s) of peak wind gust  5 total snowfall for 2012-2013 season (inches)
    N1   average wind speed (miles per hour) 6 maximum barometric pressure (inches)
    N2 dominant wind direction 6A date of maximum barometric pressure
    O  number of days with thunder  7 minimum barometric pressure (inches)
    P  number of days with hail 7A date of minimum barometric pressure
    Q  number of days with glaze 8   average sea-level pressure
    R  number of days with ice pellets STN  Station
      NR not recorded
    R1 number of days with dense fog [1/4 mile and less visibility] (i) incomplete data
    S  local observation time for temps/precipitation (M) missing, if listed in data table
     ~ "about" E estimated
     +  additional indeterminate number of days CWA - NWS Office County Warning Area



    For Weather Headlines visit the National Weather Service Homepage
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    National Weather Service Web Sites & Current Email Addresses
    Within or Nearby the ACON VA/NC/SC Area Can Be Found At:

         NWS Washington/Baltimore, VA/MD
         NWS Wakefield, VA
         NWS Blacksburg, VA
         NWS Raleigh, NC
         NWS Newport/Morehead City, NC
         NWS Wilmington, NC
         NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC
         NWS Columbia, SC
         NWS Charleston, SC
         NWS Morristown, TN

         National Weather Service Homepages

         National Climatic Data Center, Asheville, NC

    STATION / LOCATION (MILES & DIRECTION FROM MAIN POST OFFICE)/OBSERVER / YEAR RECORDS BEGAN / EMAIL ADDRESS:

      
    AKQ    Wakefield, VA NWS Wakefield Municipal Airport 36-58-53N 077-00-04W 33M  
    DCA    Arlington, VA Washington, DC, Reagan Washington National Airport
    38-50-54N 077-02-03W 18M    		 WSH   Washington, VA  David Yowell runamok@runamok.com
    BCB    Blacksburg, VA NWS Virginia Tech Airport 37-13N 080-25W   
      WOO  Woodstock, VA 5NW Lauck Walton 12/1/85 jwalton@shentel.net
       LDY Ladysmith, VA Danny Jessee 2003 STATION CLOSED 8/31/2010 danny@dannyjessee.com
    BRI     Bridgewater, VA Clayton Towers Ctowers19@aol.com WAL   Wallops Island, VA 37° 56'26" N 75° 27'47" W Wallops Flight Facility Airport
    CEN  Centreville, VA Paul Bassett 1985,
    38° 50.9788' N LAT. 77° 25.6374' W LON. | Elevation 324' | STATION CLOSED         		AVL    Asheville, NC  Asheville Regional Airport 35-25-55N 082-32-15W 670M
    CHO   Charlottesville, VA  Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport ASOS 
    (Rappahannock County) 38-08-18N 078-27-21W 192M    		 MRH    Beaufort, NC  Michael J. Field Airport 34-44-01N 076-39-38W 3M
    DAN  Danville, VA, Danville Regional Airport, 36-34-22N 079-20 10W 175M  CLT    Charlotte, NC NWS Charlotte/Douglas International Airport 35-12-48N 080-56-55W 220M
    IAD   Dulles - Washington-Dulles International Airport  38-56-05N 077-26-51W 93M   
    FCH    Falls Church, VA Erica Page 3/7/94 Windie1970@aol.com HKY  Hickory, NC 
    HAM    Hampton, VA 5NE Dave Kessel 1989 kesseld@verizon.net ECG  Elizabeth City, NC,  Coast Guard Air Station 36-15-47N 076 10-58W 11M
    LYH     Lynchburg, VA NWS Lynchburg Regional Airport 37-19-15N 079-12-24W 295M ILM     Wilmington, NC NWS New Hanover International Airport 34-16-06N 077-54-22W 9M
    CTR  Winterpock in Chesterfield County, VA Albert Arnold 06/03 FAY  Fayetteville, NC Fayetteville Regional Airport, 34-59-22N 078-52-48W 55M
      GSO   Greensboro, NC NWS Piedmont Triad International Airport 36-05-51N 079-56-37W 275M
    CHT   Chantilly, VA Russ Topping -  12/2006  russ.topping@gmail.com HSE    Cape Hatteras, NC  Mitchell Field 35-13-56N 075-27-21W 3M
    HDV    Herndon, VA  Randoplh W. Ashby, 3.3 SM South,
    Lat: 38.922127, Lon: -77.38015, Elev: 390'. 1993 randy_ashby@msn.com    		 LBT    Lumberton, NC  Lumberton Municipal Airport 34-36-26N 079-03-36W 37M
    GAV - Glen Allen, Henrico County, VA - Lowell Koontz  8/1/08  wwkoontz@verizon.net EWN    New Bern, NC  Craven County Regional Airport 36-04-03N 077-02-50W 3M
      MON    Moncure, NC  Chatham County - Mac McIlwain mac.mcilwain@embarqmail.com
      RAL    Raleigh, NC 7NNW  Bob Woodson -  6/1/93 kf4mmm@qsl.net
    LKU     Louisa, VA 1N Joseph Bowers 1944 - NWS ID  44-5050-02 STATION CLOSED RDU   Raleigh-Durham, NC Raleigh-Durham International Airport 35-52-14N 078-47-11W 130M
    LOU     Louisa, VA 6S John Bullock (about 1970) STATION CLOSED ROX    Roxboro, NC 2SE Merriell A. Jay 1/93
         WHI   North Whiteville, NC Christopher Crawley 12/10 34.413744N / 078.751908W ccawley.kk4csr@gmail.com
    LYH     Lynchburg, VA NWS Lynchburg Regional Airport 37-19-15N 079-12-24W 295M ILM     Wilmington, NC NWS New Hanover International Airport 34-16-06N 077-54-22W 9M
    NEW    Newmarket, VA 2W Joyce Winfree STATION CLOSED 5/31/10 CHS   Charleston, SC NWS Charleston Air Force Base 32-53-56N 080-02-26W 13M
    NPN     Newport News, VA 7N Gary Leonard -  6/91 mikey0781@cox.net CAE    Columbia, SC NWS Columbia Metropolitan Airport 33-56-31N 081-07-05W 73M 
    NOR     Norfolk, VA 3NE Jim Fentress 6/1/77 FLO    Florence, SC Florence Regional Airport 34-11-16N 079-43-51W 44M
    ORF     Norfolk, VA 5NE 36-54-13N 076-11-31W 14M  1871 GSP   Greenville-Spartanburg, SC NWS Greenville-Spartanburg Airport 34-53-02N 082-13-15W 286M 
    POR     Portsmouth, VA 36.81° North 76.33° West 3S Bill Trotter -  7/1/76 wxr@cox.net CRE    North Myrtle Beach, SC Grand Strand Airport 33-48-42N 078-43-26W 10M
    MEC     Mechanicsville, VA Glen Martin 11/19/91 OGB   Orangeburg, SC  Orangeburg Municipal Airport 33-27-50N 080-51-13W 59M
    FHC    Norfolk, VA  Fred Heutte Center 36° 54'N 76° 16'W 01/01/03 fhcgarden@cox.net AND   Anderson, SC 
    RIC     Richmond, VA Richmond International Airport 37-30-40N 077-19-24W 50M TRI     Tri-cities, TN  (Bristol / Johnson / Kingsport), Tri-City Regional Airport 36-28-47N 082-23-56W 474M 
    ROA    Roanoke, VA Roanoke Regional Airport 37-19-01N 079-58-27W 362M DAV  Davis, WV Dave Lesher canaanwx@yahoo.com